Juniata County Dairy Promotion pointers
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My name is Noah Lewis, and I am your Juniata County Dairy Ambassador.
On Jan. 14, 2026, the Federal Whole Milk for Healthy Kids act of 2025 was signed into law. The USDA has updated its nutrition standards to formally allow whole and 2% milk varieties back into the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.
With the federal rules now fully permitting whole milk in school lunch programs, many families in our community are eager to see this option return. Many children prefer the taste of whole milk, which means they are more likely to drink it and get the essential calcium, vitamin D, protein and other essential nutrients in whole milk. There are 13 to be exact, that they need during the school day. Additionally, the healthy fats in whole milk help keep kids full and focused during their afternoon classes. Adding whole milk back to the menu is a win for the students and our community. From a nutritional standpoint, many kids prefer the taste of whole milk, meaning less milk gets thrown in the trash.
Our local dairy options are now fully compliant under these updated federal guidelines, and I would personally like to see Juniata County School District begin working with our dairy distributors to bring these options back to the cafeterias.